Archive for November, 2012

22Nov

Happy Thanksgiving from Agriculture Television. As always Agriculture Television thanks everyone in the industry for all their hard work. If it was not for your hard work then all the food for all the meals would not happen. So as everyone sets down with family and friends for their meal please remember the Agriculture Television understands the important role that agriculture plays during Thanksgiving and the rest of the year as well. Also lots of people traveling for the holiday so travel safe. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

On Nov. 7, NFU President Roger Johnson issued a statement following the results of the 2012 presidential election. The Democratic nominee, President Barack Obama, and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden were elected to a second term. Their major challengers were the Republican nominee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. President Obama garnered 332 electoral votes and Romney received 206.

“On behalf of NFU’s membership, I congratulate President Obama on his re-election,” Johnson said. “He has shown his dedication to rural America over the past four years, and we will continue to work with him and the administration to ensure that continues.”

With the rigors of the election over, Johnson also noted the importance of completing a farm bill in the lame duck session, which will begin this week.

“We will also continue to press Congress to pass a new five-year farm bill to be signed into law before the end of the legislative session on Dec. 31, 2012,” Johnson noted.

Government Relations Update: Election Results

Yesterday’s election proved to be fairly positive for many of the House and Senate races NFU was keeping its eye on across the country. The makeup of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees will remain somewhat similar in the new Congressional session. Eight of the 46 House Ag Committee members lost their seats or retired, resulting in a 17.4% turnover rate on the committee. All Senate Ag Committee members who were up for reelection won their seats, although three members retired.

Golden Triangle award recipients of the past two years won with an 87.2% rate, and candidates endorsed by the National Farmers Union Political Action Committee (NATFARMPAC) had a 72.5% success rate.

NFU Releases Family Farm Video
Video highlighting family farmers feeding America set to air on public television.

NFU launched a new promotional video last week. A commercial segment of the video will be aired on CNBC in the upcoming weeks. Additionally, another segment will be made available to public television stations for airing. If you are interested in having this program air locally, please contact your local public television station and request that it be aired, or contact the NFU Communications department at news@nfudc.org for further details.

Log on to www.nfu.org/farmbill for the latest information on the 2012 Farm Bill. It includes both the House and Senate version of the bills and many farm bill resources, along with letters, news releases, and testimony that NFU has done about the legislation.

What’s New on the NFU Blog

Don’t forget to check out NFU’s blog at www.nfu.org/blog. We will use this space to encourage dialogue about Farmers Union events throughout the country, education and outreach, our members, cooperative development and issues that impact U.S. family farmers, ranchers, fishermen and their communities.

Leigh Slayden, NFU vice president of membership, speaks with Alaska Farmers Union members at the annual AFU state convention in Palmer Nov. 3.

Check back in the coming weeks for more coverage of Farmers Union state conventions that will take place, including North Dakota, Rocky Mountain (both Nov. 16-17), Iowa (Nov. 17), and Minnesota (Nov. 17-18).

NFU Education Activities and Opportunities

Students at the second session of the 2012-2013 Beginning Farmers Institute speak with Dr. Greg McKee with NDSU and CHS Foundation President William Nelson discuss the importance of cooperatives on Nov. 11. BFI is a national program that serves to develop and encourage agriculture leaders from all backgrounds while providing opportunities for beginning farmers to acquire leadership and farm management skills.

Annie’s Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Program Available
Annie’s Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Program is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students studying at an accredited two- or four-year college or graduate school. The program offers a total of $100,000 in funds to students studying sustainable agriculture.

NFU and Feeding America have partnered for the second year to help fight hunger throughout the United States with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

For the second consecutive year, the foundation has pledged matching funds up to $50,000. According to Feeding America, one in six Americans struggles with hunger, including one-fifth of all children.

All member-driven donations go to food banks that serve hungry people in their communities. Feeding America’s more than 200 member food banks serve 61,000 agencies across the United States that addresses hunger through emergency food assistance and programs.

Through Buffet’s challenge, every dollar donated helps provide $17 worth of food and groceries to Americans in need. With the Buffett Foundation’s matching grant, NFU members will see that number double to $34. If Farmers Union members can reach the goal set of $50,000, it will provide $1.7 million worth of food.

Click here to find out how you can help! The campaign concludes on Dec. 15, 2012.

Free Webinar for National Rural Health Day

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and their partners are celebrating National Rural Health Day Oct. 15, and will be offering a for a series of free webinars highlighting the good work being done to address rural health concerns. Topics will include the Basics of Rural Health (Nov. 12); Cultural Awareness While Serving Rural Veterans (Nov. 13); Exploring Rural Health Policy Issues (Nov. 13); and Looking Towards the Future of Rural Health Care (Nov. 16).

NFU is teaming up with Home Grown Cow to provide farmers and ranchers with an opportunity to market certain products directly to consumers. Home Grown Cow also gives consumers an opportunity to browse products by location and farming style.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson and staff work with the media to ensure NFU and its members’ voices are heard throughout the media. For the latest NFU-related news and interviews, please visit